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Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2019; 61(1); 63; doi: 10.1186/s13028-019-0498-5

Weight estimation and hormone concentrations related to body condition in Icelandic and Warmblood horses: a field study.

Abstract: The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the accuracy of different body weight formulas for estimating body weight of Icelandic and Warmblood horses, as well as to assess the associations between the variables cresty neck score, body condition score, and plasma concentrations of leptin, insulin and cortisol. A total of 81 adult (≥ 4 years of age) horses (43 Icelandic and 38 Warmblood horses) was included in this study. The following morphological measurements were collected by two examiners simultaneously; body weight; height at withers; neck length; 0.5 neck length; neck circumference; umbilical circumference, two different heart girths, as well as two different body length measurements. The horse's body weights were measured on a weight scale, and cresty neck scores were rated along with body condition scores using both the 0 to 5 and the 1 to 9 systems. Results: In general, the concordance correlation coefficient was high for most formulas, but the mean bias and slope bias deviations varied between formulas. Some simple formulas using only heart girth, or heart girth and length can be used to estimate body weight of Icelandic and Warmblood horses as good as more complex formulas using four morphometric measurements. Plasma concentrations of leptin and insulin were higher (P < 0.001) for the Icelandic than the Warmblood horses, probably reflecting higher body fat content as suggested by the differences in body condition score. Conclusions: Body weight formulas only give an estimate of body weight and not a completely correct determination. Some simple and more complex formulas can be used for Icelandic horses even though they are not developed for this breed. Complex formulas using four morphometric measurements were accurate, but simple formulas using only heart girth, or heart girth and length can be used to estimate body weight and thereby be applied to weight tapes and used to estimate the body weight of both Icelandic and Warmblood horses.
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Publication Date: 2019-12-26 PubMed ID: 31878953PubMed Central: PMC6933663DOI: 10.1186/s13028-019-0498-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study looks into how various body weight formulas work for estimating the weight of Icelandic and Warmblood horses. It also investigates relationships between body condition score, neck fat, and plasma concentrations of certain hormones.

Research Overview

  • The paper is based on a field study conducted on 81 adult horses – 43 Icelandic and 38 Warmblood. The study aims to understand the effectiveness of different body weight formulas in accurately assessing the weight of these two horse breeds. It also examines the correlation between the horse’s cresty neck score, body condition score, and plasma concentrations of leptin, insulin and cortisol – hormones associated with energy regulation and stress response.

Methodology

  • A variety of measurements were collected from each horse, including elements like height at withers, neck length, neck circumference, umbilical circumference, two types of heart girths, and two different body length measurements.
  • The horse’s weight was measured using a scale, body condition score and cresty neck scores were rated on two scales.
  • The level of similarity between values generated by different formulas was evaluated using the Concordance Correlation Coefficient. This took into account both the precision of estimates as well as how closely they corresponded to actual weights.

Findings and Conclusion

  • Results showed high levels of concordance for most formulas, but varying degrees of bias. A few formulas using just heart girth, or heart girth and length, were almost as accurate for weight estimation as more complicated formulas that required four morphometric measurements.
  • Plasma concentrations of leptin and insulin were found to be higher in Icelandic horses than in Warmbloods. This could possibly be due to a higher body fat content, as indicated by the differences in their body condition scores.
  • They concluded that although weight formulae give a fairly accurate estimate of a horse’s weight, it isn’t always precise. Nevertheless, both complex and simpler formulae used in the study show that these could be potentially applied to other horses, not only those for which they were originally developed.

Cite This Article

APA
Jensen RB, Rockhold LL, Tauson AH. (2019). Weight estimation and hormone concentrations related to body condition in Icelandic and Warmblood horses: a field study. Acta Vet Scand, 61(1), 63. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-019-0498-5

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 61
Issue: 1
Pages: 63

Researcher Affiliations

Jensen, Rasmus Bovbjerg
  • Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. rasmus.bovbjerg.jensen@nmbu.no.
  • Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Bio Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433, Ås, Norway. rasmus.bovbjerg.jensen@nmbu.no.
Rockhold, Lucca Louise
  • Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Tauson, Anne-Helene
  • Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
  • Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Bio Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433, Ås, Norway.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Body Composition
  • Body Weight
  • Denmark
  • Female
  • Horses / physiology
  • Hydrocortisone / blood
  • Insulin / blood
  • Leptin / blood
  • Male
  • Physical Examination / methods
  • Physical Examination / veterinary
  • Species Specificity

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Ahmad I, Ijaz S, Usman MM, Safdar A, Khan IU, Zeeshan M, Bukhari SSUH. Evaluating Forelimb and Hindlimb Joint Conformation of Morna Racehorses (Equus caballus). Vet Sci 2025 Jan 5;12(1).
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  2. Oddsdóttir C, Jónsdóttir HK, Sturludóttir E, Vilanova XM. The Effect of Repeated Blood Harvesting from Pregnant Mares on Haematological Variables. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 28;14(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14050745pubmed: 38473131google scholar: lookup
  3. Pratt-Phillips S, Munjizun A. Impacts of Adiposity on Exercise Performance in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 14;13(4).
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  4. Satoła A, Łuszczyński J, Petrych W, Satoła K. Body Weight Prediction from Linear Measurements of Icelandic Foals: A Machine Learning Approach. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 11;12(10).
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  5. Górniak W, Wieliczko M, Soroko M, Korczyński M. Evaluation of the Accuracy of Horse Body Weight Estimation Methods. Animals (Basel) 2020 Sep 26;10(10).
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